Buckle



Mirch 23, 1943- I L A. sTRAl-rs BUCKLE Filed Sept. 30, 1941 Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883-,4 as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 lO. G. 757) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a buckle, and has for an object to provide an improved buckle especially adapted for use on a pneumatic life-saving belt.

It is an object o f this invention to provide a buckle which may be used in connection with a pneumatic life-saving belt so as to adjust the size of the belt to the individual wearing the same without any danger of puncturing the belt and destroying its efciency for life-saving purposes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a belt buckle which may grip the pneumatic tube of the life-saving belt in such a fashion that there is no danger of injuring the tube, while at the same time it holds the tube securely so that it may remain properly about the body of the wearer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a belt buckle that may be made inexpensively, being preferably formed of A flat sheet metal, suitably stamped and pressed to the desired shape, thus providing simplicity and low cost of construction and assembly. Although sheet metal is the easiest and simplest material to be used, it will be obvious that the belt may be formed of any other suitable material, including moldable plastics. Y

With the foregoing and other objects in View,

the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawing, in which:

Fig. lis an elevational view of a fragment of a pneumatic life-belt with the buckle of this invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the buckle in unsecuring position; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational View of the base of the buckle.

There is shown at I a hollow tube forming one end of the pneumatic life-belt to which the buckle II of this invention is to be applied, the other closed end of tube I0 having a plate I2 secured thereto from which extends a T-shaped tongue I 4 having a transverse opening I5 through which may extend a hooked finger I6 extending from the belt securing arm I1. This arm I1 is shaped substantially as shown, being provided with a slight angular portion I8 and terminating in a rounded or cylindrically shaped end 20. Eccentric to this rounded end 20, the arm II is provided with a pair of oppositely extending pintles 2| about which the arm I'I may pivot, the

rounded portion 25 thus being eccentric to the journal provided by the pintles 2 I.

Cooperating with this arm I 1 is a base member 22 having a pair of upstanding wings 23. Each wing 23 is provided with an eye 24 acting as a f bearing for the pintle 2l so that the arm I1 may be pivoted about the pintles 2|, and due to the eccentric mounting of the rounded end 20 and the shape of the arm I'I, the rounded portion 2l! approaches the base 22 most closely when the finger I6 is in a plane parallel to the plane of the base 22. Just below the eyes 24 the base 22 is provided with a rounded depression 25 which, in addition to strengthening the base 22 against bending, also cooperates with the rounded end of the clamping arm as it clamps the belt therebetween.

In operation the belt is provided with an innating mechanism (not shown) at the closed end from which the plate I2 extends. The free end of the belt Il) then is passed through the buckle II while the arm I'I is in the raised position shown in Fig. 3, whereby the rounded end 20 is at substantially its maximum distance from the base 22, thus permitting the belt I0 to slide freely therethrough. When the buckle has been slid along the belt the proper distance to make the belt iit the individual wearer, the arm I'I is pivoted about the pintles 2|, causing its rounded end 20 eccentric thereto to press against the belt I0 and squeeze it against the base 22 and into the depression 25 as the hooked finger I6 of the arm I1 is being pivoted about its base and put through the slot I5 in tongue I4 of the plate I2 on the closed end of the belt I0. The protuberance 26 prevents accidental separation of finger I6 from tongue I4. This holds the arm I'I in the position shown with its rounded end 29 gripping the belt I0 against the base 22, thus closing off the pneumatic tube of which the belt is formed, yet due to the depression 25, which is rounded, it does not cause any tearing or puncturing action on tube I Il which, as understood, is of conventional rubberized pressure-retaining fabric. Thus, the same belt may be adjusted to t a person of large or small girth without any danger of impairing its flotation qualities.

Other modiiications and changes in the proportions and arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the nature of the invention, within the scope of what is hereinafter claimed.

'I'he invention described herein'may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental eccentric to said pivoting means, whereby saidl clamping arm may move said rounded portion to and from cooperating position with the transverse,

depression in the base member to clamp the belt therebetween.

2. A device for adjustably fastening an easily puncturable inatable belt consisting of a buckle.

comprising a base member having a transverse rounded depression therein strengthening the base member against bending, a clamping arm, a rounded portion formed' on the end of said clamping arm, means for pivoting said clamping arm to said base with said rounded portion eccentric to said pivoting means, whereby said clamping arm may move said rounded portion to and from cooperating position with the transverse depression in the base member to clamp and close off the pneumatic belt therebetween, and a hook and slot means cooperating with said clamping arm and the other end of the belt to hold said clamping arm in clamping position.

3. A device for adjustably fastening an easily puncturable inatable belt consisting of a buckle comprising a base member having a transverse rounded depression therein strengthening the base member against bending, a clamping arm, a rounded portion formed on the end of said clamping arm, cooperating means on said arm and base for pivoting said clamping arm to said base. member with said rounded portion eccentric to said pivoting means, whereby said clamping arm may move said rounded portion to and from cooperating position with the transverse depression inthe base member to clamp one end of the belt therebetween, a hook on said clamping arm,

slot means on the other end of the belt cooperating with said clamping arm hook to hold said clamping arm in clamping position, and a protuberance preventing accidental separation of said hook and said slet means.

LLOYD A. STRAITS. 

